Soil moisture and temperature (frost) are the most important environmental factors controlling stand establishment. Physical damage from wind, hail and excess water can also be a concern for canola plants at the early stages of development. Understanding the impacts of these environmental effects can help prepare growers to make informed management decisions, and set the crop up for success later in the growing season.
Important tips for best management
- Canola needs a moist seedbed with temperatures of two degrees Celsius or warmer for germination, the start of root growth, and ultimately emergence. Ideal temperatures for rapid germination and emergence are 10 degrees Celsius or higher.
- Early seeding in late April or early May can provide yield benefits in spite of cooler temperatures, as long as an adequate plant population survives. Starting to seed when soil temperatures in the seed zone reach four to five degrees Celsius is a reasonable compromise, or even earlier if the forecast is for temperatures to continue to increase following seeding.
- When conditions are dry, direct seeding and low disturbance openers will conserve seedbed moisture and improve germination and emergence.
- Consider the local frost risk when choosing a seeding date. The frost-free period varies considerably from location to location in Canada, and each year is different. Extreme variations of the dates of final spring frost and first fall frost may occur between years.
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